- Road to 1.0 & The current state of the game - 27 February 2026
The elephant in the roomHello everyone! 👋First and foremost, let’s address the elephant in the room. I haven’t posted any news, nor has the game been updated in the last 13 months. I’m really sorry for keeping you in the dark, especially here on Steam. Mall Craze started as a hobby side project of mine in 2019, and since spring 2023, I’ve been working on the game full time. That has changed in January last year, as I was not able to continue the development in the same manner. The last year was spent stabilizing my financial situation, so that I could get back to developing the game at least part time. Many times during the year I tried to restart the development, but life kept happening and I had to postpone things again. Fortunately, things got better and I’m now optimistic about the long term stability of the development.With that being said, let’s take a look at the current situati…
- Hotfix 0.3.6.2 - 12 January 2025
Patch Notes Small Changes Active object UI is now hidden during object move. Bug Fixes Fixed: Designs are not set to default when completely deleting mall or shop area and then rebuilding it in the same place later. Fixed: Game sometimes crashes when completely deleting mall or shop area and then rebuilding it in the same place later. Fixed: Character navigation on escalators crashes the game in unique situations. Fixed: Entering shop construction via Entrance UI doesn't close Construction Tabs. Fixed: Clicking on Eyedropper while in Build, Move or Paint mode produces confusing behaviour. Fixed: Clicking on Bulldozer while in Build, Move or Paint mode produces confusing behaviour. Fixed: Eyedropping Entrance, Window, Cashier Table or Product while not in shop construction prevents opening that shop's dashboard via cashier table. Fixed: Eyedropper tool doesn't copy object's rotation. Fix…
- Hotfix 0.3.6.1 - 11 January 2025
Patch Notes Bug Fixes Fixed: Copying and Pasting Material Cards crashes the game. Fixed: Pasting Entrance and Window designs sometimes makes some materials stuck.
- Update 0.3.6 - Big CPU, RAM & Load Times Optimizations - 9 January 2025
Hello everyone! 👋 In the age of frame generation and upscaling techniques, why not treat ourselves with some real frames and sharper graphics for once? Thanks to the changes to the material system behind the curtains, I was able to improve massive CPU bottleneck for both DirectX 11 & 12! Besides that, the game now also uses up to 50% less RAM while using DirectX 11! The same thing is true for load times, which have now been decreased by 30% while using DirectX 11. Up to 115% higher FPS in DX11, and up to 28% higher FPS in DX12 🚀 (while being CPU bottlenecked) Simulation games tend to be pretty CPU heavy, and that's no different for Mall Craze as well. While the game can run well with an empty map, the game quickly becomes demanding on your processor once you've build a larger mall with hundreds of customers. At that point, no matter how much you lower the graphical settings, the FPS s…
- Update 0.3.5 - Czech Localization & Plans for Other Languages - 19 December 2024
Hello everyone! 👋 I was looking for a small gift that I could give you in this holiday season, and I think I found something! Localizations are slowly coming to Mall Craze! ✏️ The first one being Czech today, as that's my mother tongue, making it the easiest one to start with, and to make sure that everything works well. Other languages will be added in future updates. Most likely in the form of community translations. If you're interested in helping with this cause, please join the Discord server where most of the work will be organized. Merry Christmas everyone, and I will see you in the next update! 🎄🎁 - Milan, developer Full Patch Notes 🔧 Additions & Improvements Czech localization added. Small Changes Some texts in the UI edited for easier localization. Available Now https://store.steampowered.com/app/1223530/
- Update 0.3.4 - New Kiosk and Plans for Food Court! - 5 December 2024
Hello everyone! 👋 A new update is here - version 0.3.4! When your customers visit your mall, I bet that they get really hungry after a while, and even though vending machines for some quick snack are already in the game, it is time to start working on a proper Food Court! Starting with this one, the next couple of content updates will focus more on adding the Food Court mechanics. The truth is, I was planning to have some of those features ready for this update, but I've hit a couple of roadblocks along the way. This is also the main reason for almost 2 month period between this and the last update, as I was mostly figuring stuff out. In the meantime, I also started working on a new kiosk - the Cake Kiosk, which will serve as a nice transition and introduction into the Food Court updates. And what exactly will these following updates include? In no particular order: customers sitting a…
- Update 0.3.3 - Quality of Life Features #2 - 15 October 2024
Hello everyone! 👋 A new update is here - version 0.3.3! It brings with itself two new features: time speed control and autosaves. Let’s take a closer look! Time Control - Part 2 ⏳ This update completes the time control feature introduced in the previous version, which added the ability to pause time. Update 0.3.3 expands on this by introducing speed control, allowing your customers to zip through your mall at up to 6x the normal speed! The following GIF is not sped up in post-production: Watching customers zoom through the mall makes my brain produce happy chemicals. ːsteamhappyː Autosaves 💾 You can now set how often you'd like your game to autosave, with the interval ranging from 5 to 30 minutes. To keep the folder from growing too large, the autosave folder has a cap of 20 save files. The other small changes na big fixes are listed in the full patch notes below. Thank you, everyone,…
- Update 0.3.2 - Quality of Life Features #1 - 7 October 2024
Hello everyone! 👋 It is time for another update - version 0.3.2! It may seem odd to emphasize time in bold, but in just a few seconds, you'll see that this update is all about time. Let's jump in! Time Control - Part 1 ⏳ In this update, I’ve decided to tackle some Quality of Life (QoL) improvements you've been requesting for a while now, and I felt that the time was right to address them. There are two new main features coming with this update. The first is Time Control, specifically the first part of it — Pause. There were two ways that I could've approached this. The first was a traditional pause that completely freezes the game, while the second was a time pause that lets you continue building, customizing, and managing your mall. The second option was the better choice since it aligns with how many other games in the genre work. The only thing left now is the ability to speed up ti…
- First Year of Mall Craze Early Access - 13 September 2024
Hello everyone! 👋 Hello everyone! Today I’d like to share with you a quick overview of the first year since the game has released into Early Access. This year has seen steady progress for Mall Craze, and I'm really grateful for the support you've shown along the way. Whether you've been here since day one or you just recently stumbled upon the game, I welcome you here! We’ve got a lot to cover, so let’s dive in! 🎬 Individual Updates https://store.steampowered.com/news/app/1223530/view/3718340776839794461 https://store.steampowered.com/news/app/1223530/view/3716090245652899691 https://store.steampowered.com/news/app/1223530/view/3720595112950091779 https://store.steampowered.com/news/app/1223530/view/3814046073264274414 https://store.steampowered.com/news/app/1223530/view/3878226811989210568 https://store.steampowered.com/news/app/1223530/view/3985189839361587179 https://store.steampow…
- Update 0.3.1 - Expanded Soundtrack - 9 September 2024
Hello everyone! 👋 Update 0.3.1 is here! Wait... a new one already? Just one week after a major update? Yes! 🎵 There’s been one part of the game that I haven’t touched since launch, and that was the soundtrack. Throughout the year, I’ve always wanted to create more music for the game, but somehow I never found the right time to just sit down and compose. The days following the 0.3.0 release felt like the perfect time to do just that, and that’s exactly what I did. The Mall Craze soundtrack is now 3.5x bigger than before! Which... wasn’t actually that hard to achieve, considering there were only 2 songs in the game previously... Let’s just say the music was a bit repetitive. I hope you’ll enjoy the 5 new tracks, and that they will help you with building, customizing, and running your mall! Thank you all for your support, and I’ll see you in the next update! - Milan, developer Full Patch…
- Major Update 0.3.0 - New Shop & More! - 2 September 2024
Hello everyone! 👋 The second major update to Mall Craze is here! It brings a completely new shop, improvements to Build mode, and lots of other changes and additions! Let's see what's in store for us today: Primary Changes Flower Shop 💐 I'm happy to share that another big shop is now in the game: the Flower Shop! It consists of 11 placeable product shelves, which together contain 33 sellable products. These include colorful bouquets, cute tabletop plants, decorative pumpkins, a variety of plant pots with unique styles, and much more. If you're looking to add some greenery and life to your mall, this shop will definitely do the trick! Build & Move Mode Grid Overlay 🚧 Although objects in Mall Craze snap to a grid of various sizes (mostly 50cm and 25cm, which can be temporarily turned off for most things), there was previously no visual indication of this. Grid placement naturally leads…
- Update 0.2.7 - Vending Machines - 21 June 2024
Hello everyone! 👋 A couple of weeks have gone by, and it's time for another update - version 0.2.7. The main news for today is clear: Vending Machines! Plus, there are also lots of additional larger and smaller changes and improvements as well. Let's dive in! Snacks & Drinks Vending Machines After normal shops and kiosks, vending machines are the 3rd distinct shop class in Mall Craze. Some of you may have noticed that there already was a vending machine object in the main construction menu, and you would be right! But it was really just that - an object without any interaction from customers. The new Snacks and Drinks vending machines are completely different, as they are a fully functioning machines with their own dashboard and products for sale. The funny thing is, I never realized how off-scale the old vending machine 3D model really was. 😅 New Controls & Audio Settings I've added…
- Update 0.2.6 - Seating & Build Menu Categories - 30 April 2024
Hello everyone! 👋 I'm excited to share with you the latest update for Mall Craze - version 0.2.6. While it might not seem like a big deal upfront, this update is actually pretty significant for the game's future, thanks to some important background work that's been done. Let's dive into what this update includes and what I'm talking about! Have a seat! The main focus of this update is seating. Previously, there were benches in the game, but customers couldn't actually sit on them. The good news is, if you already have benches in your mall, customers can now use them without you needing to do anything extra. Additionally, there are 6 new benches being added into the game. Some of these are even modular, which means you can get really creative with them. I'll talk more about that later. What makes this update important? Up until now, the interactions between customers and objects have be…
- Update 0.2.5 - New Pre-Made Level & Mini Scenarios - 27 March 2024
Hello everyone! It's time for another update – version 0.2.5! But that's not the only number that matters for this update; it's actually the 10th update since Mall Craze launched into Early Access 🎉 (not counting minor hotfixes)! Let's see what's in store for us today: New Pre-Made level: New Opportunities 🏬 A local mall needs a new management, and you've been given the priviledge to become the general manager. The first floor of the mall is already up and running, but there are still a few things that need your attention! Fun fact: This mall was initially built for internal development purposes. Mini Scenarios With update 0.2.5, pre-made malls are no longer anonymous buildings, as each pre-made level now has its own unique backstory. Mini scenarios also provide a brief outline of what your next step with the new mall could be. Thank you everyone for your support, and I will see you i…
- Update 0.2.4 - New Pre-Made Level & Kiosk, Controls UI - 23 March 2024
Hello everyone! 👋 It's time for another update, version 0.2.4. Today's update brings a nice mix of new content and quality-of-life features. Let's dive in! Dental Care Kiosk In the last update, the first kiosk was intoduced into the game - perfumes - and today is no different. The second addition to the stalls & kiosks collection is a Dental Care Kiosk, offering items such as electric toothbrushes and dental hygiene products. In total, this new kiosk introduces 14 new sellable products. New Pre-Made level: Small Garden 🌳 Today, the selection of pre-made malls and levels gets expanded a little - something you can look forward to even more in the future. Until now, you've had the choice of starting a new mall with either 2 pre-made options or an empty map. The new level, Small Garden, strikes a nice balance between the two. Contextual Controls UI To make the building & customization pro…
- 6 Months of Mall Craze Early Access - 15 March 2024
Hello everyone! It's been 6 months (already!?) since Mall Craze launched into Early Access, and I felt like creating a small overview of the first batch of updates. Many of these updates were inspired or directly influenced by your feedback, for which I thank you very much! It's been an incredible journey so far, and I'm very much looking forward to the future as more and more things will be coming into the game. Individual Updates https://store.steampowered.com/news/app/1223530/view/3718340776839794461 https://store.steampowered.com/news/app/1223530/view/3716090245652899691 https://store.steampowered.com/news/app/1223530/view/3720595112950091779 https://store.steampowered.com/news/app/1223530/view/3814046073264274414 https://store.steampowered.com/news/app/1223530/view/3878226811989210568 https://store.steampowered.com/news/app/1223530/view/3985189839361587179 https://store.steampowere…
- Update 0.2.3 - Stalls & Kiosks, Dynamic Lights and Fountains - 14 March 2024
Hello everyone! The Spring Sale is here, and with it comes a new update! The 0.2.3 continues with what 0.2.2 started (and more). The 0.2.2 update brought the first new shop type - Gaming Hardware store, and today, the game has yet another new addition. And it's not just a new shop type, it is a completely new class of shops - Stalls & Kiosks! Perfume Kiosk The very first addition for stalls & kiosks is Perfume Kiosk. But before I continue, let's see how stalls and kiosks will differ from normal shops. The main difference is obviously their size, as they don't require a dedicated shop are, entrance, and products to be built. They are a perfect option when you have an empty area in your mall that is not big enough for a regular store. Another great place for a stall would be plaza or hallway - just like in a real-life mall. Because of their size, they also house a set of pre-defined produ…
- Update 0.2.2 - New Shop: Gaming Hardware - 16 February 2024
Hello everyone! The first new shop is here! And what better way to start than adding a Gaming Hardware store into a videogame, right? Gaming Hardware Store 🎮 Although similar at first glance to the electro store, the Gaming HW focuses on bringing the raw gaming performance to your customers. The new shop offers 16 placeable product shelves, which in total contain 47 different sellable products (each having it's own name, description, and price). This is the first addition from the new series of shops, with the next one being already in pre-production! I really love this screenshot! 👇 Thank you all for your support, and take care! - Milan, developer Full Patch Notes 🔧 Gaming Hardware store added Gaming Chair Computer Parts (Graphics Card Mid-Range, Graphics Card High-End, Motherboard ATX, Motherboard ATX High-End, Motherboard Micro-ATX, CPU, RAM High-End, RAM Low-End) Consoles (Gaming…
- Update 0.2.1 - Streamlined Shop Construction - 23 January 2024
Hello everyone! The main purpose of 0.2.X updates will be bringing new content into the game. Update 0.2.1 is the first stepping stone towards that goal. Shop Construction Process Streamlined Before adding new shops into the game, I wanted to address the construction process first, as it was confusing at times. The main reason for that was mostly separate building menus for shop layout construction and products construction. Once you had your shop constructed and you hired your cashiers, you then had to navigate to a separate product building menu. Fixing this issue was fairly straightforward - the shop construction menu and product construction menu are now merged into one. For already built shops, you can access this menu in 2 ways - through shop's entrance (the same way as products build menu in previous versions) or through shop's dashboard (this remains the same). Products are not…
- Hotfix 0.2.0.2 - 12 January 2024
Patch Notes Additions & Improvements Support for DirectX 11 Added. Small Changes Crash Troubleshooting button added in Main Menu linking to Troubleshooting Guide. on the Community Hub. Known Issues Previous versions corrupted save files when there was a shop or mall named with an apostrophe ', which caused game crash when loading the save. New save files made with 0.2.0 do not have this issue. If you wish for me to try and restore the save file manually, please send the file at [email protected] Your save files can be found in the Documents/MallCraze folder. Some people experience random periodical crashes. Possible solutions can be found in this Troubleshooting Guide. -Milan, developer
